Nagpur medical college professor removed from post of vice-dean after students allege harassmenthttps://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/nagpur-medical-college-professor-removed-from-post-of-vice-dean-after-students-allege-harassment/

A senior professor of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) was removed from the post of vice-dean after several complaints of sexual and mental harassment were lodged against him by the students.

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Sources said that one of the allegedly harassed student had even attempted suicide on November 17 by consuming sleeping pills after the accused threatened to fail him in an examination. Soon after this incident, a female student complained that the professor has been touching her inappropriately.

The fate of Makarand Vyawahare, the head of the department of forensic medicine at the college, was decided after an emergency meeting was convened by dean Abhimanyu Niswade after the students went to him. Some students also alleged that Vyawahare had threatened to withhold signatures on documents, besides failing them in internal examinations.

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The students said that he would often brag that his brother-in-law was state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and that he could do whatever he wishes.

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Taking up the issue after the father of the student who attempted suicide threatened to immolate himself if stern action is not taken against Vyawahare before the winter session of the state legislature begins, Niswade has constituted an enquiry committee to look into the allegations.

However, refuting all allegations, Vyawahare said: “My efforts to bring discipline is being misinterpreted as harassment. Most of the students do not submit their work on time and hence I scold them. Post-mortem reports, death certificates should be ready within a day. But the students slack. I have only been trying to teach them that doctors cannot afford to slack.”

About the girl’s claim, Vyawahare said: “The allegation is baseless. I have not done anything of that sort.” He also denied all allegations that he uses his brother-in-law’s name to scare students.